Dear friends, (4) "nAnggaLUm mArgazhi neerAda maguzhndhu.." The (first-person-plural) expression "nAngalLUm.." in this verse, literally means "even we?". It is suggestive of the essentially democratic character that the 'satsangh' of milkmaids in the TiruppAvai possessed. True "satsangh" is an "open society"? it is a conclave open to all God-seekers irrespective of individual qualification or worth. Everyone is welcome to join 'satsangh'? even poor, "spiritually naïve" and unschooled souls such as humble cowgirls from the "aayarpAdi"? The TiruppAvai calls them "ariyAda-pillaigaL". The lesson here is: Even the lowliest of the world must be allowed admission into and embraced by a 'satsangh'. (There is no such thing in the world as an "elite" "satsangh". There are really no "country club retreats" to which "VIP devotees" may wish to leisurely retire over the weekend to indulge their pious airs or righteous pretension.) (5) "tUyOmaay vandu-nAm ?" This expression is very suggestive of the inner purity of the soul of a 'satsangh'. A true 'satsangh' possesses power to render even the grossest of men into pure and tranquil souls? "tUyOmaay nAm?" The purity of the serene mind is what is hailed as "nishchala-chitta" -- the exalted state of Bhakti the verse from Sankara's "bhaja-gOvindam" we saw earlier spoke about. All God-seekers yearn for "tUymai" all their lives. They long to rid themselves of the dirt of delusion and the grime of earthly bondage which the human spirit naturally and effortlessly collects in simply going through the business of daily living in this world.("nirmOhatvam" and "nissangatvam", Sankara calls it). And "satsangh" is the best means they can find to wash and cast it all off. Just as pieces of soiled clothes, when soaked, slaked, rinsed, tumble-washed, thrashed, washed, speed-spun and tumble-dried inside an automatic washing machine, finally eject out altogether as spotlessly white and clean pieces? so do men with soiled minds and defiled spirit who willingly go into "satsangh" and choose to live amidst it and throw in their fate with it... they too emerge pure and serene --- "tUyOmAy vandu nAm..". The statement about Purity in the soul of a 'satsangh' is also found in Stanza 16 of the TiruppAvai in the phrase "tUyOmaay vandOm?". (6) "ullathukkondu munivargaLUm yOgigaLUm mella-ezhundhu ariyenra pEr-aravam ullam pUgUndhu?" This is one of AndAl's finest and most imaginative expressions indeed! The phrase immediately evokes impressions in our minds of a large 'satsangh' of ascetics and hermits ---"munivargaLUm yOgigaLUm" i.e. yogis and 'muni-s' immersed in the private bliss of deep, meditative slumber. Without meaning any disrespect to them, "munis" and "yOgis" are what one may call "lone wolves" of the spiritual world. They like to hunt for God all on their own. They shun human company and even when they are compelled to live amongst ordinary men, they prefer not to interact too much with their fellowmen. They prefer solitude to company and "mowna" (silence) to the ceaseless "small talk" of common humanity. (That's why one finds, even in this day and times, that there is no dearth of "mowna-muni-s" or "mum-monks" of all hue and denomination amidst the crowded metros and cities of India!). Yet, as this expression seeks to gently convey, even such severe ascetics and monks, do awaken now and then from the bliss of yogic sleep or silence, and shedding their natural reserve and reticence, begin to behave in the manner of a merry 'satsangh' -- ecstatically crying out the names of God: "Hari! Hari!" ? as in "ari-yenra pEr aravam?". If the sternest of yogis and the severest of ascetics cannot resist the temptation of fraternizing with a 'satsangh', why should we ordinary souls shy away? Such is the meaning we may derive from this verse. ************** (to be continued) Regards, dAsan, Sudarshan ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Mobile: Download the latest polyphonic ringtones. Go to http://in.mobile.yahoo.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Srirangasri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxx Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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